Tag Archives: Tragic

The Japanese manga and anime series Attack on Titan made absolutely zero sense to me until I realized it is an unmistakable analogy to World War II.

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All over the internet, I kept seeing disturbing images of a giant human with no skin. I’m not particularly squeamish about violence in the media — most horror movies drive me into a fit of hysterical laughter. Plus, I’m generally fascinated by the macabre. But certain things just get to me. Like the part in the brilliant Pan’s Labyrinth when Captain Vidal’s face is mutilated and he sews it back together (though I adore the Pale Man). Or in Boardwalk Empire (one of my favorite shows) when Richard Harrow (one of my favorite characters) scalps another character without hesitation. And this giant skinless human is no different — sending shivers down my spine!

Image from Attack on TitanDisclaimer: I do not own this image!!

I soon discovered that this giant skinless human is from a series called Attack on Titan(進撃の巨人, Shingeki no Kyoujin). When I first became interested in Japan around middle school, I used to watch a lot of anime. But I tend towards live-action series or movies nowadays (a wonderful tool for practicing my language skills). I do find the occasional anime series like the amazing Gankutsuou (巌窟王): The Count of Monte Cristo (which is actually the most faithful adaptation of Dumas’s masterwork) and the gripping Monster (モンスター) (scheduled to be adapted into live-action for HBO by Guillermo del Toro). In other words, I’m usually extremely picky about my anime. But, after being utterly confused by the Attack on Titan Wikipedia summary, I decided to give the series a try out of pure morbid curiosity.

So, I’ve been working my way through the episodes on Hulu. It might be a bit melodramatic at times and the so-called “Vertical Maneuvering Equipment” that allows the characters to leap around is pretty implausible. But it has a relatively well-constructed plot line and decent character development. The main characters Eren and Mikasa have particularly tragic yet compelling backstories. But I couldn’t help a strange feeling of déjà vu…

A page from Barefoot Gen by Keiji NakazawaDisclaimer: I do not own this image!!

And then it hit me! I realized that certain elements of Attack on Titan bear a striking resemblance to the renowned manga Barefoot Gen (はだしのゲン, Hadashi no Gen), about the bombing of Hiroshima and its survivors.

For instance: In Attack on Titan, Eren and Mikasa attempt to free Eren’s mother from underneath their collapsed house. But Eren’s mother begs them to save themselves. Eren and Mikasa, with the help of a city guard names Hannes, flee from danger as Eren’s mother is killed and eaten by a titan. This directly parallels Barefoot Gen. After the atom bomb drops on Hiroshima, Gen and his mother Kimie discover Gen’s father Daikichi and Gen’s siblings trapped underneath their collapsed house. Gen and Kimie attempt to free the rest of the family before they are consumed by the fire that has broken out all across the city. But Daikichi begs them to save themselves. Gen and Kimie are forced to flee from danger.

This parallel leads me to believe that the humanoid titans may have been inspired by the victims of the atom bombs. In Hiroshima and Nagasaki, many victim’s skin melted off or hung from their bodies in tatters. These victims must have been in excruciating pain and are depicted moving very slowly and blindly, almost like zombies. Although the titans are not meant to be sympathized with (at least not yet) as one would sympathize with the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, their movements are very similar. In this context, the one skinless titan makes so much more sense to me. I really won’t be surprised if the series reveals that the titans are resulted from a human scientific experiment gone wrong and that we are indeed meant to sympathize with them.

Attack on Titan‘s analogy to World War II does not stop with the atom bombs. The series often explores themes related to militarism, group mentality, and self-sacrfice — topics often associated with Japan during World War II as well as World War II across the board.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Perhaps I’ll post more correlations between Attack on Titan and Barefoot Gen as I continue watching!

Logline/Summary: A contemporary film noir about the tragic fate of a father and his daughter. Mr. Charles P. Cable finds himself unwittingly mixed up in a case of identity theft that provokes serious repercussions.

Reception: “…a compelling structure for a short. It heightens the stakes knowing that the protagonist is going to end up in a life-threatening and bloody situation. It also makes the story compact and easy to digest — a great attribute in a short.” –Feedback from the 2014 BlueCat Screenplay Competition

The Man Who Never Smiled began as the seed of an idea, based on an individual who was hired by my family to appraise the impressive art collection my grandfather and subsequently grandmother left behind. I never noticed that this man never smiled until my mom inadvertently said something that made him laugh and we were all shocked by the result.

Originally, the short screenplay was commissioned by a production company in the UK. But ultimately they were unable to film it. So I just put the project aside in my pile of yet-to-be-produced scripts. That was until earlier this year when, out of the blue, I received a message via Stage32 from Sacramento-based director Josh Mihal expressing his interest in my scripts and in particular The Man Who Never Smiled.

We began discussing the project over Skype. I created detailed notes for Josh and he set about recruiting the cast and crew. Soon, Josh will send me a shot list and I will get to work on a simple storyboard. Also, I will be working as script consultant on set. We are planning to film this July 27th and 28th.

It should be noted that we are doing this on a shoestring budget, which is simultaneously nerve-racking and compelling. Not only am I absolutely excited to finally see one of my scripts come to fruition, but I am also eager to send the finished project to various festivals and competitions.

I am trying to raise funds to go to Northern England for the filming of my short screenplay The Man Who Never Smiled, a contemporary film noir about the tragic fate of a father and his daughter. As the screenwriter, it is important for me to be on set for any last-minute changes. But the production company is working on a shoe-string budget and has no funds to get me there or even pay me. Please help me make my dream of becoming a professional screenwriter come true!

My name is G. E. Gallas, and I am a screenwriter and graphic novelist (writer/illustrator). I will be making a trip to the U.K. early next year, and need your help to make my dreams come true!

1. My short screenplay, The Man Who Never Smiled (a contemporary film noir), is being produced by Dream Catcher Films in the North West of England. This film is being made on a tight budget, and there are no funds for me to get there. It’s important for me to be there during filming so that I can make on-the-spot changes to the script and get hands-on experience in film production.

2. In between filming will be the perfect opportunity to visit London to research the 18th-Century poet-painter William Blake, the hero of my graphic novel The Poet and the Flea. I plan to visit Blake’s grave as well as various museums that house his works. Seeing his works in person would be life changing. This would be my first time in England, and I hope to make this an unforgettable learning experience.

Your contributions will help cover expenses for transportation (airplane, train) and lodging. I truly appreciate any and all support, whether through contributions and/or spreading the word through social media (Twitter, etc.)!!

While in Europe, I plan to document my travels. When I return, I will share my photos and experiences with all of you through my blog gegallas.wordpress.com.